222 research outputs found
Gravitational energy of a magnetized Schwarzschild black hole - a teleparallel approach
We investigate the distribution of gravitational energy on the spacetime of a
Schwarzschild black hole immersed in a cosmic magnetic field. This is done in
the context of the {\it Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity}, which
is an alternative geometrical formulation of General Relativity, where gravity
is describe by a spacetime endowed with torsion, rather than curvature, with
the fundamental field variables being tetrads. We calculate the energy enclosed
by a two-surface of constant radius - in particular, the energy enclosed by the
event horizon of the black hole. In this case we find that the magnetic field
has the effect of increasing the gravitational energy as compared to the vacuum
Schwarzschild case. We also compute the energy (i) in the weak magnetic field
limit, (ii) in the limit of vanishing magnetic field, and (iii) in the absence
of the black hole. In all cases our results are consistent with what should be
expected on physical grounds.Comment: version to match the one to be published on General Relativity and
Gravitatio
Robotic pancreatic surgery is no substitute for experience and clinical judgment: an initial experience and literature review
Medical planning for mass-participation running events: a 3-year review of a half-marathon in Singapore
Turing learning: : A metric-free approach to inferring behavior and its application to swarms
We propose Turing Learning, a novel system identification method for
inferring the behavior of natural or artificial systems. Turing Learning
simultaneously optimizes two populations of computer programs, one representing
models of the behavior of the system under investigation, and the other
representing classifiers. By observing the behavior of the system as well as
the behaviors produced by the models, two sets of data samples are obtained.
The classifiers are rewarded for discriminating between these two sets, that
is, for correctly categorizing data samples as either genuine or counterfeit.
Conversely, the models are rewarded for 'tricking' the classifiers into
categorizing their data samples as genuine. Unlike other methods for system
identification, Turing Learning does not require predefined metrics to quantify
the difference between the system and its models. We present two case studies
with swarms of simulated robots and prove that the underlying behaviors cannot
be inferred by a metric-based system identification method. By contrast, Turing
Learning infers the behaviors with high accuracy. It also produces a useful
by-product - the classifiers - that can be used to detect abnormal behavior in
the swarm. Moreover, we show that Turing Learning also successfully infers the
behavior of physical robot swarms. The results show that collective behaviors
can be directly inferred from motion trajectories of individuals in the swarm,
which may have significant implications for the study of animal collectives.
Furthermore, Turing Learning could prove useful whenever a behavior is not
easily characterizable using metrics, making it suitable for a wide range of
applications.Comment: camera-ready versio
Impact of long-term viral suppression in CD4+ recovery of HIV-children on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
BACKGROUND: The effects of HAART may differ between children and adults because children have a developing immune system, and the long-term immunological outcome in HIV-infected children on HAART is not well-known. A major aim of our study was to determine CD4+ evolution associated with long-term VL control during 4 years of observation on HAART. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study on a cohort of 160 vertically HIV-infected children. It was carried out from 1996 to 2004 in six large Spanish pediatric referral hospitals. We compared 33 children who had long-term VL suppression (VL ≤400 copies/ml) in the first 12 months of follow-up and maintained that level throughout follow-up (Responders-group), and 127 children with persistently detectable VL in spite of ART switches (Non-Responders-group). RESULTS: We observed a quick initial and significant increase in CD4(+ )counts from the baseline to 12 months on HAART in both groups (p < 0.01). The Non-Responders group sustained CD4+ increases and most of these children maintained high CD4(+ )level counts (≥25%). The Non-Responders group reached a plateau between 26% and 27% CD4(+ )at the first 12 months of follow-up that remained stable during the following 3 years. However, the Responders group reached a plateau between 30% and 32% CD4(+ )at 24, 36 and 48 months of follow-up. We found that the Responders group had higher CD4(+ )count values and higher percentages of children with CD4(+ )≥25% than the Non-Responders group (p < 0.05) after month 12. CONCLUSION: Long-term VL suppression in turn induces large beneficial effects in immunological responses. However, it is not indispensable to recover CD4(+ )levels
A function blocking anti-mouse integrin α5β1 antibody inhibits angiogenesis and impedes tumor growth in vivo
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Integrins are important adhesion molecules that regulate tumor and endothelial cell survival, proliferation and migration. The integrin α5β1 has been shown to play a critical role during angiogenesis. An inhibitor of this integrin, volociximab (M200), inhibits endothelial cell growth and movement <it>in vitro</it>, independent of the growth factor milieu, and inhibits tumor growth <it>in vivo </it>in the rabbit VX2 carcinoma model. Although volociximab has already been tested in open label, pilot phase II clinical trials in melanoma, pancreatic and renal cell cancer, evaluation of the mechanism of action of volociximab has been limited because this antibody does not cross-react with murine α5β1, precluding its use in standard mouse xenograft models.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We generated a panel of rat-anti-mouse α5β1 antibodies, with the intent of identifying an antibody that recapitulated the properties of volociximab. Hybridoma clones were screened for analogous function to volociximab, including specificity for α5β1 heterodimer and blocking of integrin binding to fibronectin. A subset of antibodies that met these criteria were further characterized for their capacities to bind to mouse endothelial cells, inhibit cell migration and block angiogenesis <it>in vitro</it>. One antibody that encompassed all of these attributes, 339.1, was selected from this panel and tested in xenograft models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A panel of antibodies was characterized for specificity and potency. The affinity of antibody 339.1 for mouse integrin α5β1 was determined to be 0.59 nM, as measured by BIAcore. This antibody does not significantly cross-react with human integrin, however 339.1 inhibits murine endothelial cell migration and tube formation and elicits cell death in these cells (EC<sub>50 </sub>= 5.3 nM). In multiple xenograft models, 339.1 inhibited the growth of established tumors by 40–60% (<it>p </it>< 0.05) and this inhibition correlates with a concomitant decrease in vessel density.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results herein demonstrate that 339.1, like volociximab, exhibits potent anti-α5β1 activity and confirms that inhibition of integrin α5β1 impedes angiogenesis and slows tumor growth <it>in vivo</it>.</p
Subtle effects of environmental stress observed in the early life stages of the Common frog, Rana temporaria
Worldwide amphibian populations are declining due to habitat loss, disease and pollution. Vulnerability to environmental contaminants such as pesticides will be dependent on the species, the sensitivity of the ontogenic life stage and hence the timing of exposure and the exposure pathway. Herein we investigated the biochemical tissue ‘fingerprint’ in spawn and early-stage tadpoles of the Common frog, Rana temporaria, using attenuated total reflection- Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with the objective of observing differences in the biochemical constituents of the respective amphibian tissues due to varying water quality in urban and agricultural ponds. Our results demonstrate that levels of stress (marked by biochemical constituents such as glycogen that are involved in compensatory metabolic mechanisms) can be observed in tadpoles present in the pond most impacted by pollution (nutrients and pesticides), but large annual variability masked any inter-site differences in the frog spawn. ATR-FTIR spectroscopy is capable of detecting differences in tadpoles that are present in selected ponds with different levels of environmental perturbation and thus serves as a rapid and cost effective tool in assessing stress-related effects of pollution in a vulnerable class of organism
A Spatial Cluster Analysis of Tractor Overturns in Kentucky from 1960 to 2002
Agricultural tractor overturns without rollover protective structures are the leading cause of farm fatalities in the United States. To our knowledge, no studies have incorporated the spatial scan statistic in identifying high-risk areas for tractor overturns. The aim of this study was to determine whether tractor overturns cluster in certain parts of Kentucky and identify factors associated with tractor overturns.A spatial statistical analysis using Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic was performed to identify county clusters at greatest risk for tractor overturns. A regression analysis was then performed to identify factors associated with tractor overturns.The spatial analysis revealed a cluster of higher than expected tractor overturns in four counties in northern Kentucky (RR = 2.55) and 10 counties in eastern Kentucky (RR = 1.97). Higher rates of tractor overturns were associated with steeper average percent slope of pasture land by county (p = 0.0002) and a greater percent of total tractors with less than 40 horsepower by county (p<0.0001).This study reveals that geographic hotspots of tractor overturns exist in Kentucky and identifies factors associated with overturns. This study provides policymakers a guide to targeted county-level interventions (e.g., roll-over protective structures promotion interventions) with the intention of reducing tractor overturns in the highest risk counties in Kentucky
Immunovirological response to combined antiretroviral therapy and drug resistance patterns in children: 1- and 2-year outcomes in rural Uganda
Children living with HIV continue to be in urgent need of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART). Strategies to scale up and improve pediatric HIV care in resource-poor regions, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, require further research from these settings. We describe treatment outcomes in children treated in rural Uganda after 1 and 2 years of ART start
Bowel management for the treatment of pediatric fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence is a devastating underestimated problem, affecting a large number of individuals all over the world. Most of the available literature relates to the management of adults. The treatments proposed are not uniformly successful and have little application in the pediatric population. This paper presents the experience of 30 years, implementing a bowel management program, for the treatment of fecal incontinence in over 700 pediatric patients, with a success rate of 95%. The main characteristics of the program include the identification of the characteristics of the colon of each patient; finding the specific type of enema that will clean that colon and the radiological monitoring of the process
- …